Ripley1015
Member
Hi everyone, this is my first post on the forum! I got my first BD in April and have been using this site for a lot of research! I want to post some pics of my BD and her enclosure and see what you guys think.
This is Ripley, I got her in April and they said she was about a month old so I am guessing she is 4 months old now. This is her on the day we brought her home. She was 6" & weighed 10.5g
and her first setup
, I switched out the repticarpet for tiles and removed the plants (really difficult to clean and metal wires sticking out-NOT SAFE)
Here is her current setup:
-40G tank with front opening doors
-Slate tiles for flooring
-ReptiSun 10.0 T5 mounted inside the tank for UVB and she can get within 6-8 inches from her hammock or the top of the branch, 8-10inches if shes on her bridge or top of the cave
-(Left dome)75w Flood lamp from homedepot (Philips Eco brand) for basking- she basks on the top of her branch and the temps are usually between 99-108F (currently it is 108F), hot side is usually between 85-90F, cool side 83F-86F, When I first got her in April it was still very cold so instead of the 75w flood light, I had a 90w flood light in the dome which was producing basking temps of about 110-115F, as it got warmer I switched it to the 75w flood light and figured since she is a bit bigger now she wouldn't need the 110F temp for her basking, What do you guys think? Is it ok to keep the 75w during summer and switch back to the 90w when it becomes cooler?
-(middle dome)- Natural fluorescent daylight coil bulb for added light to brighten up tank (5000K)
-(Right side mini dome)- 40W clear bulb for added heat or light if needed, I live in NY and now it's summer time so I haven't been using it, When I first got her in April it was still very cold overnight so I had a CHE in that dome that I used overnight
-Thermometers: I have 2 digital thermometers/hygrometers mounted on the insides of the glass-1 on cool side 1 on hot side, I also have a infrared thermometer gun to measure the temps of her basking and hot/cool side I also use the thermo gun to make sure the thermometers are accurate, currently my humidity readings are: hot side 41%, cool side 46% (both hygrometers were calibrated using the salt test before use), I have been searching the forum to find tips on lowering the humidity levels, I think overall my Apt can get very humid especially in the summer time, I usually keep a water bowl in the tank but since summer has started I took it out. I try to give her a bath 2 times a week and I give her water through a needleless syringe, that's the only way she will drink. I have the AC on a timer to come on in intervals throughout the day when i am at work so that it doesn't get too hot in my apt. On some days the humidity reaches 50%! I place a fan near by to improve air flow. I recently ordered 2 accurite thermometer/Hygrometer to measure the humidity in the apt to see if a dehumidifier is necessary, I also have a few house plants near her tank, so maybe that raises the levels?
Her diet: her staple protein is Dubia roaches, I started a dubia colony when I first got her and it is doing wonderful! I am quite proud of myself for starting a successful dubia colony being this is my first time owning a reptile =], Ripley LOVES her dubias, she gets occasional crickets if I decide to let my colony rest & catch up. She's also had some silk worms, phoenix worms and hornworms before. I've only ordered them once but will order them again soon.
Her greens: collard, mustard, water cress, kale, occasional blueberries & mangoes (her favorite), we give her Squash, bok choi occasionally, BUT Ripley doesn't really like to eat her greens much =/, I've read its normal for young beardies, she does eat a few leaves here and there but not consistent. Also the past few days she hasn't had much of an appetite and has been eating less, only a few crickets and a few dubias, her poop is normal, she goes daily, I think it might have something to do with her shedding.
She's very active, roams around the entire enclosure, jumps up the back glass as if she's trying to climb the background but it's on the outside, jumps from her bridge to her branch all the time, last few days shes been glass dancing a little but again she is currently shedding, I bring her outside often and she turns a bright yellow/orange, she's beautiful! but she darkens once she's back in, I never seen her puff up or show her beard yet, but I take it as a good thing =], if she isn't walking around her enclosure she is basking on her branch most of the time.
She is now 4 months old, 13 inches long and weighs 145grams. Sometimes she has wrinkles in her skin and I'm not sure if she's dehydrated or if it's normal because she is a leatherback? here is a pic of her with wrinkles
and then sometimes it's not there?
please let me know what you guys think of her enclosure, her set up and overall comments! I am open to all opinions and advice, I just want the best for my Ripley! here are a few more pics of my little girl =) enjoy and thanks for reading!!!
This is Ripley, I got her in April and they said she was about a month old so I am guessing she is 4 months old now. This is her on the day we brought her home. She was 6" & weighed 10.5g
Here is her current setup:
-Slate tiles for flooring
-ReptiSun 10.0 T5 mounted inside the tank for UVB and she can get within 6-8 inches from her hammock or the top of the branch, 8-10inches if shes on her bridge or top of the cave
-(Left dome)75w Flood lamp from homedepot (Philips Eco brand) for basking- she basks on the top of her branch and the temps are usually between 99-108F (currently it is 108F), hot side is usually between 85-90F, cool side 83F-86F, When I first got her in April it was still very cold so instead of the 75w flood light, I had a 90w flood light in the dome which was producing basking temps of about 110-115F, as it got warmer I switched it to the 75w flood light and figured since she is a bit bigger now she wouldn't need the 110F temp for her basking, What do you guys think? Is it ok to keep the 75w during summer and switch back to the 90w when it becomes cooler?
-(middle dome)- Natural fluorescent daylight coil bulb for added light to brighten up tank (5000K)
-(Right side mini dome)- 40W clear bulb for added heat or light if needed, I live in NY and now it's summer time so I haven't been using it, When I first got her in April it was still very cold overnight so I had a CHE in that dome that I used overnight
-Thermometers: I have 2 digital thermometers/hygrometers mounted on the insides of the glass-1 on cool side 1 on hot side, I also have a infrared thermometer gun to measure the temps of her basking and hot/cool side I also use the thermo gun to make sure the thermometers are accurate, currently my humidity readings are: hot side 41%, cool side 46% (both hygrometers were calibrated using the salt test before use), I have been searching the forum to find tips on lowering the humidity levels, I think overall my Apt can get very humid especially in the summer time, I usually keep a water bowl in the tank but since summer has started I took it out. I try to give her a bath 2 times a week and I give her water through a needleless syringe, that's the only way she will drink. I have the AC on a timer to come on in intervals throughout the day when i am at work so that it doesn't get too hot in my apt. On some days the humidity reaches 50%! I place a fan near by to improve air flow. I recently ordered 2 accurite thermometer/Hygrometer to measure the humidity in the apt to see if a dehumidifier is necessary, I also have a few house plants near her tank, so maybe that raises the levels?
Her diet: her staple protein is Dubia roaches, I started a dubia colony when I first got her and it is doing wonderful! I am quite proud of myself for starting a successful dubia colony being this is my first time owning a reptile =], Ripley LOVES her dubias, she gets occasional crickets if I decide to let my colony rest & catch up. She's also had some silk worms, phoenix worms and hornworms before. I've only ordered them once but will order them again soon.
Her greens: collard, mustard, water cress, kale, occasional blueberries & mangoes (her favorite), we give her Squash, bok choi occasionally, BUT Ripley doesn't really like to eat her greens much =/, I've read its normal for young beardies, she does eat a few leaves here and there but not consistent. Also the past few days she hasn't had much of an appetite and has been eating less, only a few crickets and a few dubias, her poop is normal, she goes daily, I think it might have something to do with her shedding.
She's very active, roams around the entire enclosure, jumps up the back glass as if she's trying to climb the background but it's on the outside, jumps from her bridge to her branch all the time, last few days shes been glass dancing a little but again she is currently shedding, I bring her outside often and she turns a bright yellow/orange, she's beautiful! but she darkens once she's back in, I never seen her puff up or show her beard yet, but I take it as a good thing =], if she isn't walking around her enclosure she is basking on her branch most of the time.
She is now 4 months old, 13 inches long and weighs 145grams. Sometimes she has wrinkles in her skin and I'm not sure if she's dehydrated or if it's normal because she is a leatherback? here is a pic of her with wrinkles
please let me know what you guys think of her enclosure, her set up and overall comments! I am open to all opinions and advice, I just want the best for my Ripley! here are a few more pics of my little girl =) enjoy and thanks for reading!!!
Everything is pretty much spot on....and 50% humidity is not bad at all, parts of Australia will get that level of humidity, it can go up + down just like it does in the U.S and other countries. The cool end could be a few degrees cooler with no problem but is in the proper range. Well done !
